As a society, we're failing to recognize something my dad knew to be true - that kindness is the greatest show of strength. Too often, we are led to believe that strength is best demonstrated by exerting dominance or superiority over others, while kindness is portrayed as the opposite - a sign of weakness.

There are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up.

Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; While others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before.

People sometimes sneer at those who run every day, claiming they'll go to any length to live longer. But I don't think that's the reason most people run. Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest. If you're going to while away the years, it's far better to live them with clear goals and fully alive than in a fog, and I believe running helps you do that. Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that's the essence of running, and a metaphor for life-and for me, for writing as well. I believe many runners would agree.

There are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing down the other is pulling up.

Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal While others on the contrary obtain a victory by exerting at the last moment more vigorous efforts than ever before.